WA State Department of Natural Resources Seeks Urban Forestry Financial Assistance Program Planner

Full-time, Permanent, Represented position

Location: Natural Resources Building- Olympia, WA

Location flexibility may be available and considered 

Salary: $5,136.00 - $6,908.00 Monthly 

In addition to the salary range listed, a general wage increase of 4% will be applied for all state employees on July 1, 2023.

 

Review of applications is ongoing. The hiring authority reserves the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after June 15, 2023. It is in the applicant’s best interest to submit material as soon as possible.

 

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity in our Forest Resilience Division’s Community and Landowner Assistance Section, Urban and Community Forestry Program. The DNR Forest Resilience Division is seeking a motivated individual to oversee the development, planning, outreach, and coordination of the division-based Urban Forestry Program’s grants, agreements, and financial awards.

 

The Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program works to educate Washington State residents and decision-makers about the economic, environmental, psychological, and aesthetic benefits of trees and to assist local government, community groups, and volunteers in planting and sustaining healthy trees and vegetation wherever people live, work, and play in Washington State. The mission of UCF is to provide leadership to create self-sustaining urban and community forestry programs that preserve, plan, and manage forests and trees for public benefit and quality of life.

 

As part of this division and program, you will work alongside a talented team of professional planners, scientists, and implementers providing service to local, state, private, and federal partners to increase the resiliency and health of Washington’s forests and landscapes. In this position, you will be part of a team focused on providing services to those managing urban forests throughout Washington. You will ensure investments are strategically and transparently delivered to further legislative and strategic plan direction, maximizing programmatic impact and leveraging additional resources. This position works with the program team under the supervision and guidance of the Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager.

 

Our Urban Forestry Grant Program Administrator serves as the primary connection between DNR and Urban and Community Forestry Program grantees, partners, and vendors to ensure proactive strategic engagement of communities and local partners through management of investments, relationships, and progress reporting of the impact of the individual and cumulative impact and leveraged resources toward urban forestry goals.

 

This position will also interact with our program staff and DNR Contracts and Procurement staff to draft and prepare external grant and contract documents, monitor progress of executed agreements, catalog submitted invoices and reports, and track expenditures. The position will support processing of invoices, resolution of problems, and enforcement of standards for compliance among grantees and vendors.

 

• Serve as lead UCF Financial Assistance Program Planner across DNR programs, divisions, and to external partners to implement our program’s strategic plan, meet legislative direction in RCW 76.15, improve the health of Washington’s community forests and develop self-sustaining local urban forestry programs and partnerships.

• Oversee the deliberate development, planning, outreach, and coordination of the Program’s grants, agreements, and financial awards in alignment with the Program’s budget and in fulfillment of agency and program strategic plans.

• Utilize the program’s data driven spatial prioritization tools and other information sources to identify communities that are priorities for urban forestry investments and opportunities for investments that can catalyze change. Develop strategic investments in support of DNR forest resilience strategic plans.

• Build relationships and provide expert consultation to cities and towns, counties, tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions on investment opportunities, requirements, and leveraging resources to further UCF goals in Washington.

• Coordinate across programs in DNR Forest Resilience to ensure complementary and leveraged funding programs and procedures to achieve all-lands Division goals and priority actions, while also coordinating with DNR programs in other divisions to align and leverage funding while achieving urban forestry goals within agency strategic plans such as the Watershed Resilience Plan and Climate Resilience Plan. This includes coordination with Aquatics Division, Wildland Fire Management, State Lands, and more.

• Develop and manage grant and financial assistance program criteria, guidelines, and requests for proposals/applications (RFPs/RFAs) as needed in coordination with other program staff, Forest Resilience Budget and Business Operations staff, and DNR Contracts and Procurement staff to strategically implement the direction of federal funding, state legislative intent, and the goals and priority actions of our 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, Washington State Forest Action Plan, and DNR Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan.

• Coordinate and lead grant review processes to select applications for funding. Create grant review committees, summarize reviewer notes and scores, and notify applicants of funding decisions.

• Prepare documents such as instruction sheets, checklists, and grant application forms with guidance form DNR Contract and Procurement staff and UCF Program staff.

• Assist with development of draft incoming grant proposals by working with DNR staff and partners to determine concepts and feasibility, gathering and organizing information, writing and formatting drafts, and similar pre-application tasks.

• Coordinate with competitive grant awardees to develop, execute, manage, and monitor grant agreements and contracts in coordination with DNR Grants and Contract staff.

• Track and manage a growing portfolio of urban forestry agreements with complex timelines and diverse funding sources.

• Support agreement close-out and provide data as requested for various reporting requirements.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for questions about grants and contracts associated with the DNR UCF Program.

• Solicit feedback from DNR staff, applicants, grantees, and other stakeholders to improve UCF grant and contract documents. Seek opportunities to make grants and contract agreements more accessible and inclusive.

• Summarize and provide progress reporting on individual and cumulative grant program accomplishments, and work with DNR Communications staff to create communication materials summarizing accomplishments. Present grant accomplishments to report internally to program and management staff, the USDA Forest Service, the Washington Community Forestry Council, and others.

• In coordination with DNR Communications, facilitate storytelling to celebrate successes of grant projects or contract work, including drafting of news releases, newsletter and blog posts.

 

• Bachelor’s degree in project management, business, finance, accounting, or related field.

OR Equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience successfully managing and administering grants, contracts, or other partnership agreements.

• Experience with records maintenance and retention.

• Experience and skills in customer service.

• Experience of effective oral and written communications and can convey messages clearly and persuasively, including public speaking skills.

• Experience in community, stakeholder, and partner outreach and engagement to meet a specific objective.

• Demonstrated experience responding to and interacting in a positive, responsive, cooperative, collaborative manner with the public and other professionals (both inter-organizational and interdisciplinary).

• Proficient with computers and Microsoft Office applications including Excel and SharePoint.

• Works well independently and effectively manages multiple tasks at different stages.

• Organizational management - has a strong understanding and ability to organize efficiently and the ability to develop or use systems for tracking implementation and accomplishments of several complex projects.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including ability to translate technical data and information for all audiences.

• DNR Core Competencies: 

○ Personal Accountability 

○ Value Others 

○ Compassionate Communication 

○ Inspire Others 

○ Commitment to Excellence 

 

• Professional experience working with or for a federal, state, or municipal government, and/or non-profit organizations.

• Grant writing and development experience.

• Experience in environmental, natural resources, or conservation related work which includes but is not limited to forestry, fisheries, wildlife management, land management, soil and water conservation, etc.

• Skills and experience with general forest health issues such as insects, diseases, invasive species, drought, wildland fire, etc. and general UCF knowledge of tree inventories, canopy analysis, urban forest management plans and tree plantings.

• Experience working with underserved or historically marginalized residents, neighborhoods or communities

firm understanding of social and environmental justice issues.

At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Our Vision – Our actions ensure a future where Washington’s lands, waters, and communities thrive.

Our Mission – Manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations.

Our Core Values:

• Safety and Well-Being —Our top priority is the safety of the public and our employees.

• Public Service —We value and respect the public we serve, and we value and respect the people of the Department of Natural Resources who step up to serve.

• Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving — We solve our state’s most pressing challenges through innovative thinking, dedication, and bold and creative vision.

• Leadership and Teamwork —We are committed to building leaders at all levels and building teams for success.

DNR provides excellent benefits, a few of those include:

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness

• Work/life balance

• DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)

• Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups

• Leadership that empowers and supports employees

• Professional development opportunities

• Educational and career development aid

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments

• A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.

 

• To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov. You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.

• Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.

• Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.

• Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.

• Important: Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).

• Complete all supplemental questions.

 

This recruitment may be extended and may also be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.

 

Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22 or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching.  We thank you and are grateful for your service!

 

The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

 

Persons needing accommodation during the screening process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff at (360) 522-2500 or (360) 522-0143 or by email at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.  Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 1-800-833-6388 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

 

Questions?  Please contact Ben Thompson at ben.thompson@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.

 

Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.